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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexander Nikishin vs Quinton Byfield

Alexander NikishinAlexander NikishinHurricanes · DefencevsQuinton ByfieldQuinton ByfieldKings · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50.

Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.

This week Nikishin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.

They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.

Nikishin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.42, Offensive-zone time 47.3%.

Byfield's biggest edges: Ice-time share 32.7%, Ice time per game 20:01, Transition attempts /60 1.78.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexander Nikishin

1.50

fantasy points per game

Quinton Byfield

1.59

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Quinton Byfield has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromNikishinByfield
Goals (+2)0.270.61
Assists (+1)0.270.32
Power-play points (+0.5)0.060.07
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.23
Hits (+0.1)0.160.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.580.28

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Nikishin vs Byfield

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

NikishinByfield
2Team record in 2 meetings0
1Points in those games2

Nikishin 1G 0A, 2 SOG · Byfield 1G 1A, 2 SOG

0Shots blocked by the other1

Nikishin blocked 0 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 1 of Nikishin's.

On the ice against each other (Nikishin's side)

9:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nikishin's side

Shot attempts
10–6
62.5%
Expected goals
0.3–0.3
57.1%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexander Nikishin and Quinton Byfield
DateScoreNikishinByfield
2026-02-01CAR 3–2 LAK1G 0A 2S1G 0A 1S
2025-10-18CAR 4–3 LAK0G 0A 0S0G 1A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

NikishinByfield

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Alexander Nikishin

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)

Quinton Byfield

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ COL
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexander Nikishin or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50. Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
Who is better, Alexander Nikishin or Quinton Byfield?
On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
How have Nikishin and Byfield done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Nikishin's team went 2–0. Nikishin had 1 points (1 goals) and Byfield had 2 (1 goals).

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →